Hose reel



5. BOWMAN Sept. 1, 1964 HOSE REEL.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 2, 1959 SPENCER BOWMAN 011mm,mum,- Dummy ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1964 s. BOWMAN HOSE REEL Original FiledApril 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

SPENCER BOWMAN 01mm Normally ATTORNEYS 3,146,967 HOSE REEL SpencerBowman, Lakewood, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to KoehringCompany, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Original applicationApr. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 803,597, now Patent No. 3,021,015, dated Feb. 13,1962. Divided and this application Dec. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 156,747 3Claims. (Cl. 242107.1)

This invention relates generally, as indicated, to a hose reel and moreparticularly to a novel hose reel to keep taut the flexible hoses thatare connected to extensible cylinder parts. This application is adivision of application Serial No. 803,597, filed April 2, 1959, nowPatent No. 3,021,015 entitled Outriggers for Power Shovels, Cranes, orthe Like.

In such parent application, there is disclosed a unique and improvedoutrigger for power shovels, cranes, or the like wherein power-operatedoutrigger beam are moved out by hydraulic motors to an extended workingposition wherein the ends of curved outrigger beams engage the groundlaterally of the crane or the like more firmly supporting the same. Thecurved beam outriggers are provided in a beam box or housing which hascombination beam guide and locking shoes that, in addition to guidingthe extension and retraction movements of the beams, serve to lock thebeams at any partly or fully extended position Without need of employingthe conventional locking pins or without reliance on the hydraulicactuating system to maintain the beams in the desired extended position.The curved beam outrigger also doubles as a jacking means for quicklylifting the carrier of such crane or the like from the ground for tireor wheel changes or for lifting the wheels from soft spots in the groundwhereby planks or the like may be inserted under the wheels.

The operation of the outrigger may be provided from the drivers caband/or from the crane cab, and preferably, the hydraulic power foroperation of the outrigger is derived from the same source that suppliesthe carrier power steering mechanism. The outrigger beams are actuatedby unique double-acting telescopic hydraulic cylinders, which form thesubject matter of copending divisional application, Serial No. 156,748entitled Motor, filed even date herewith now abandoned. Thesedoubleacting telescopic cylinders achieve full power extension andretraction of the curved beams of the outrigger.

With the employment of such double-acting telescopic hydrauliccylinders, it becomes a problem to maintain taut the flexible hosesconnected to the extensible cylinder parts thereof.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to providea hose reel assembly which will keep tensioned the flexible hoseconnected to the extensible cylinder parts.

It is another main object to provide a hose reel assembly which willkeep taut the flexible hoses connected to such extensible cylinder partswithout the employment of any sealed swivel joints between the hydraulicsupply lines and the respective flexible hoses.

It is another object to provide a hose reel assembly of a simplifiedconstruction made of relatively few inexpensive parts.

A further object is the provision of a hose reel assembly of asimplified durable construction which will maintain the double-actingtelescopic hydraulic cylinders operative in the most rugged operatingconditions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related 3,14%,967 FaterrtedSept. 1, 1964 ends, the invention, then, comprises the featureshereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims,the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth indetail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this beingindicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which theprinciple of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a motor crane having two sets ofcurved beam outriggers installed transversely respectively at the rearand between the front and rear axles of the carrier frame, the curvedbeams thereof being shown in fully retracted positions with the floatsfolded up to constitute the closures for the open-ended outrigger boxes,each box containing a pair of curved beams disposed in side-by-siderelation for extension transversely from the opposite sides of thecarrier frame;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of one of the outriggers (the rear onein FIG. 1), such view being partly in cross-section, to show in detailthe operating and supporting mechanism for one of the two curved beamstherein;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view as viewed from the top of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are cross-section Views taken substantially along thelines 44, and 55 of FIG. 2 and line 66 of PEG. 4, respectively;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged central longitudinal cross-section view of apreferred form of double-acting telescopic hydraulic cylinder with whichthe present invention may be employed for actuating the outrigger beamsecured to one end thereof;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view showing the instant outriggers adjustedfor working in crowded quarters;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view similar to FIG. 8 except showing theinstant outriggers as used in leveling the crane, shovel or like machineon sloping or irregular ground; and

FIG. 10 is a cross-section view similar to FIG. 6 taken on the line10-10 of FIG. 4 showing the tape and tension unit.

It will be understood that the crane, the outriggers employed therewith,and the telescopic hydraulic cylinder employed for actuating suchoutriggers serve as an illustration of the use to which the hose reel ofthe present invention may be applied.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and first, to FIG. 1,there is shown therein a motor crane 1 comprising a frame 2 providedwith front and rear axles 3 and 4 upon which front and rear wheels 5 and6 are mounted. Adjacent the front end of the frame 1 there is mountedthe drivers cab 7 and on an intermediate portion of the frame 1, usuallyabove or forward of the rear axles 4, is a turntable 8 on which thecrane assembly is mounted for turning about a vertical axis. Said craneassembly, includes a boom 9 and a crane cab 10 in which the craneoperator manipulates the controls (not shown) and cables 11 for swingingthe boom 9 about the turntable axis and for raising and lowering theboom 0 about the boom pivot 12.

The carrier frame 2. also has mounted transversely therebeneath, betweenthe front and rear axles 3 and 4 and to the rear of the rear axles 4,the respective outrigger assemblies 14 and 15. As known in the art,outriggers are provided on equipment of this nature so that heavy loadshandled by the boom 9 on either side of the crane 1 may be safelyhandled without danger of tipping. Outriggers also relieve the springs,axles, and tires of added load to which they would be otherwisesubjected.

In the ensuing description and drawings reference is made particularlyto the outrigger assembly 15 which is u mounted at the rear end of thecarrier frame 2 and it is to be understood that the other outriggerassembly 14 which is mounted between the front and rear axles 3 and 4 isof the same general construction as the assembly 15.

It should also be noted that dual controls are preferably provided sothat the Outriggers 14 and 15 may be manipulated as through the rearwindow of the drivers cab 7 or from within the crane cab 10, andalthough any source of fluid pressure may be employed, it is preferredto utilize the same fluid pressure system that is employed for the powersteering mechanism, since that pressure system is not used at the sametime that the outriggers 14 and 15 are manipulated.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the outrigger box or housing 16, is ofgenerally rectangular cross-section providing two compartments 17 and 18to accommodate the respective curved beams 19 therein in side-by-siderelation. One end of each beam 19 has float 21 pivotally mounted thereonby means of the pin 23, the floats 21 being automatically swung upresponsive to retraction of the beams 19 to constitute closures for theopen-ended housing 16 (see FIG. 1 and left side of FIG. 2). The housing16 has the lugs 24 and 25 by which it is detachably pinned to thecarrier frame 2.

As shown in the drawings, each beam 19 is of longitudinally curved formof say, about 16 radius and is of hollow rectangular cross-section. Eachfloat 21 is provided with two sets of vertically spaced holes so that itmay be vertically positioned on pin 23 with respect to beam 19 to bestsuit the ground conditions at the site where the outriggers are to beused.

The housing 16 is provided with two sets of friction shoes 26 and 27therewithin, one set for each beam 19. The shoes 26 are mounted toengage the bottom sides of the respective beams 19 and shoes 27 aremounted to engage the top sides of the respective beams 19, such zonesof engagement being spaced apart lengthwise of the beams 19. These shoes26 and 27 by reason of their spacing and angular relation serve not onlyas beam guides, but, also as wedge locks to immovably support the beams19 in any extended position without any reliance whatever on thehydraulic system or without requiring the use of the conventionallocking pins 28 that are adapted to be inserted through the holes 29formed in the beams 19 with their ends engaging the ends of housing 16.Thus, upward ground reaction at the float pivots 23 will be ineffectiveto cause inward collapsing movement of the beams 19. It is through theseguide and locking shoes 26 and 27 also that a force multiplication ofabout 2:1, for example, is obtained, that is, for each two feet ofhorizontal extension of the beams 19, the floats 21 move down about onefoot.

Each beam 19 is extended from and retracted into the housing 16 by meansof a telescopic double-acting hydraulic cylinder 30 which is pinned at31 to housing 16 and at 32 to beam 19 so as to extend generallyhorizontally and lengthwise of the respective compartment 17 or 18.

The construction of such double-acting telescopic hydraulic assembly 30is shown in detail in FIG. 7. As there shown, the main cylinder 34 isprovided with ports 35 and 36 at its ends adapted alternately to becommunicated with a fluid pressure supply line (not shown) and with afluid reservoir (not shown) via a conventional four-way valve located inthe crane cab or in the drivers cab 7, or in both places, as previouslymentioned.

Reciprocable in said main cylinder 34 is an annular piston 37 which, asshown, has a tubular piston rod constituting a secondary cylinder 38 forthe piston 39, the latter having a piston rod 40 linked by pin 32 tobeam 19. The piston rod 40 is slidably sealed in the end cap 41 which ismounted at the outer end of the aforesaid secondary cylinder 38, saidend cap being provided with a port 42 to which a flexible hose 43 isadapted to be connected and which flexible hose will, through theflexible hose 45 of the aforesaid four-way valve, be alternatelycommunicated with a fluid pressure source and with a fluid reservoirdepending upon whether the cylinder assembly 30 is being retracted orextended respectively. The other flexible hose 46 also leads to thefour-way valve to serve as a pressure line or return line as the casemay be.

Accordingly, where an outrigger beam 19 is to be moved out and down tocarrier supporting position, the four-way valve will be actuated so thatfluid under pressure in the hose 46 enters the port of the main cylinder34 by way of line 47 and fluid is displaced from the cylinder chambers48 and 49 to the fluid reservoir by way of the port 42, and hoses 43 and45 of the port 36, line 50 and hose 45, respectively. Such fluid underpressure will actuate the annular or hollow piston 37, until it engagesthe end cap 51, whereupon the beam 19 will be further extended bymovement of the piston 39 in the secondary cylinder 38. In this way, thebeam 19 will be moved outwardly and downwardly simultaneously until thefloat 21 thereof engages the ground, and preferably, the areas of thepistons 37 and 39 and the magnitude of the fluid pressure will besufficient to raise the carrier wheels from the ground if that bedesired for leveling or for changing the tires or Wheels, or for liftingthe wheels out of soft spots in the ground.

On the other hand, when it is desired to retract the beam 19, thefour-way valve will be actuated so that the fluid under pressure will beadmitted into the ports 36 and 42 and the fluid in the cylinder chamber52 will be displaced back to the reservoir through the port 35 of themain cylinder 34. Preferably, the cross-section areas of the cylinderchambers 48 and 49 are substantially equal whereby the overall forceexerted by the cylinder assembly 30 is equivalent to that of aconventional four inch diameter double-acting piston-cylinder assemblybut, in the present case, the main cylinder 34 will be approximately ofsix inch diameter while the secondary cylinder will be of about fourinch diameter. The telescopic arrangement herein makes possible about afive foot range between the fully retracted position and the fullyextended position of the cylinder assembly 30, while yet the center tocenter distance between the cylinder 34 and the piston rod eyes will beabout three and one-half feet or less.

Referring back to FIGS. 2 to 6, the reference numerals and 45 are theflexible lines leading from the control valve in the drivers cab 7 and/or crane cab 10, one line 46 being connected as by means of an S-bend 53to the cylinder port 35 and the other line 45, aside from its connectionwith hose 43, being connected by a similar S-bend 54 to the line whichleads along the outside of the main cylinder 34 to the port 36 thereof.

The line 45 that leads to the port 42 via hose 43 includes a helicallycoiled flexible portion 56 disposed inside the drum 57 of the hose reel58 which radially clears the tubular reel supporting shaft 59, the endof the portion 56 being connected to the inner portion of a double elbowfitting 69. The hose 43 is connected at one end to the outer portion ofthe elbow 60 (FIG. 6) and is wrapped helically about the drum 57 withits other end connected to an elbow 61 or like fitting provided at theport 42 of the secondary cylinder end cap 41. Also connected to the drum57 of the hose reel 58 is one end of a flexible steel tape 62 or thelike, which has its other end connected within a tension unit 63 whichmay be similar, for example, to a conventional sash balance. Referencemay be had to the patent to Foster No. 2,873,472 for a disclosure of anexemplary spring sash balance. Thus, when the telescopic cylinderassembly 30 is extended, the hose reel 58 will be turned in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, and the tape 62 will bewound around the drum 57 under the tension imposed by the tension unit63. This keeps the section of the hose 43 between the reel 58 and thesecondary cylinder 38 taut. Now, when the cylinder assembly 30 isretracted, the tension unit 63 acting on the tape 62 will turn the reel58 in a clockwise direction thereby winding hose 43 on the drum 57 andtaking up slack in the portion of the hose 43 between the secondarycylinder 38 and the reel 58. When the hose reel 58 is rotated in acounterclockwise direction, the portion 56 of the hose inside the reelwill be Wound up to a smaller helix but still clear of the center shaft59. On the other hand, when the hose reel 58 rotates in a clockwisedirection, the portion of the hose 43 on the exterior will be helicallycoiled thereaoout while the portion 56 of the hose inside the reel willexpand in diameter but yet not tight against the inside of the drum 57.With such hose reel 53, it is, therefore, not necessary to provide anyrotary, sealed swivel joints or the like, since one end of the portion56 is secured to the inside portion of the elbow 60 and the other end ofthe hose is secured to a T or like fitting 64 fixedly mounted in theoutrigger housing 16.

In any case, by reason of the provision of the doubleacting telescopichydraulic cylinder assembly 30, it is possible to exert large forcesendwise or lengthwise, of the curved beam 19 to move the float 21thereof into and out of ground-engaging position.

The versatility of the outriggers is illustrated, for example, in FIGS.8 and 9. In FIG. 8, there is shown the operating position of theoutriggers 14 and 15 in connection with crowded quarters as, forexample, a building wall W located close to one side of the carrierframe 2. In that case, the floats 21 on that side of the carrier areadjusted to their upper position as shown so that a block B or the like,may be inserted under each float between the crane 1 and the Wall W. InFIG. 9, there is shown the operating position of the outriggers 14 and15 on sloping ground and again, the floats 21 at the right are eachadjusted to the upper position and each outrigger beam 19 is actuated tothe extent necessary to level the crane 1 or other equipment. Forpurposes of leveling, the crane 1 is provided with a bubble level (notshown) and by thus leveling the equipment there is a substantial savingin swing clutch wear and tear since uphill swinging of the boom 9 iseliminated, such leveling also relieving long booms 9 of hazardous sideloadings. Also, one or both sides of the carrier may be lifted from theground to provide for quick jacking up of the Wheels for tire changes,or for lifting the wheels out of soft spots in the ground. Because thereare two longitudinally spaced beams 19 on each side, the crane 1 mayalso be leveled fore and aft.

As previously mentioned, the series of holes 29 in each outrigger beam19 are intended for reception of a locking pin 28 which has its endsprojecting beyond the sides of the beam 19 to engage the adjacent end ofthe housing 1.6. However, by reason of the novel wedge locks 26 and 27,the outrigger beams 19 are rendered self-locking in any extendedposition and, therefore, the locking pins 23 are not necessary at allexcept as reassurance to workmen who, by reason of union regulations orfear complexes are not inclined to work near equipment that they believeto be locked only by the hydraulic system. ,However, it has beendemonstrated that the hydraulic lines herein may be completely severedand the pins 28 pulled without any danger of collapsing of the outriggerbeams 19 from their extended ground-engaging positions.

By way of illustrative example, it has been found that the presentOutriggers 14 and 15 can be set up very quickly. Actually the fouroutrigger beams 19 herein shown can be fully extended to workingposition within a matter of a little over one minute, namely,seventy-six seconds. Of course, each outrigger beam 19 may be controlledindependently to adjust to varying ground conditions and as, forexample, some floats 21 may be adjusted to their lower positions toengage on downwardly sloping 6 ground or to engage in hollows or ditchesin the ground, and floats 21 may be adjusted to their upper positions toengage upwardly sloping ground or on bumps or rises in the ground. Forhighway travel, the outrigger beams 19 are fully retracted and thefloats 21 automatically fold back flush against the ends of the boxes 16for maximum road clearance, as best shown in FIG. 1. However, forfrequent on-the-job moves, the beams 19 need only be retracted until thefloats 21 have about eight inches of road clearance, and such retractiontakes only a matter of twenty seconds, whereupon the machine may bemoved to the next position whereupon in another twenty seconds, thebeams 19 are reset to start productive work. Thus, the total time isjust forty seconds plus the travel time for each move-up of the machine.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent ofsuch, be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:

1. A reel assembly for power transmission lines comprising a shaft, arotatably supported drum mounted on said shaft, a first length offlexible line having one end connected to said drum and being coiledaround the outside of said drum and leading to a movable motor, a secondlength of flexible line connected to said one end of said first lengthof line coiled Within said drum radially clear of said shaft and leadingto a source of power or the like, the paying out of said first length ofline tightening the coil of said second length of line inside said drumto a position yet still radially clear of said shaft, and a flexiblesteel tape having one end connected to said drum, said tape beingwrapped about said drum with the other end being connected to a tensionunit, said tape being wrapped on said drum in a direction opposite tothat which said first length of flexible line is wrapped on said drumwhereby the paying out of said first length of line will be resisted bysaid tension unit.

2. A reel assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and secondlengths of line are connected to each other and to said drum by a doubleelbow fitting.

3. A hose reel for a hydraulic telescopic cylinder assembly of anoutrigger or the like comprising an outrigger housing, a drum rotatablysupported on the wall of said housing, a first length of flexible hosehaving one end connected to said drum and being coiled around theoutside of said drum and leading to a movable component of saidassembly, a second length of flexible hose having one end connected tosaid one end of said first length of hose and coiled in said drum withthe other end of said second length of hose connected to a fittingfixedly mounted in said Wall within said drum and adapted to beconnected to a source of fluid under pressure, said second length offlexible hose being alternately Wound up and unwound to form a coil ofsmaller diameter and larger diameter responsive to rotation of said reelin opposite directions, and a flexible steel tape having one end connected to said drum and wrapped about said drum in a direction oppositeto that of said first length of flexible hose and having the oppositeend of said tape connected to a tensioning unit to resist paying out ofsaid first length of flexible hose from said drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,446,410 Bennett et al. Feb. 20, 1923 1,868,409 Crispen July 19, 19321,994,481 Levin Mar. 19, 1935

1. A REEL ASSEMBLY FOR POWER TRANSMISSION LINES COMPRISING A SHAFT, AROTATABLY SUPPORTED DRUM MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, A FIRST LENGTH OFFLEXIBLE LINE HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID DRUM AND BEING COILEDAROUND THE OUTSIDE OF SAID DRUM AND LEADING TO A MOVABLE MOTOR, A SECONDLENGTH OF FLEXIBLE LINE CONNECTED TO SAID ONE END OF SAID FIRST LENGTHOF LINE COILED WITHIN SAID DRUM RADIALLY CLEAR OF SAID SHAFT AND LEADINGTO A SOURCE OF POWER OR THE LIKE, THE PAYING OUT OF SAID FIRST LENGTH OFLINE TIGHTENING THE COIL OF SAID SECOND LENGTH OF LINE INSIDE SAID DRUMTO A POSITION YET STILL RADIALLY CLEAR OF SAID SHAFT, AND A FLEXIBLESTEEL TAPE HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID DRUM, SAID TAPE BEINGWRAPPED ABOUT SAID DRUM WITH THE OTHER END BEING CONNECTED TO A TENSIONUNIT, SAID TAPE BEING WRAPPED ON SAID DRUM IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TOTHAT WHICH SAID FIRST LENGTH OF FLEXIBLE LINE IS WRAPPED ON SAID DRUMWHEREBY THE PAYING OUT OF SAID FIRST LENGTH OF LINE WILL BE RESISTED BYSAID TENSION UNIT.